Do I presume correctly that, if he retires in the near future, he effectively can still run around doing bishop stuff, other than the annoying stuff like parish confirmations and diocesan budget committees and all that? Since there’s now a new, ahem, representative of the key group in question as a serving bishop, this sure sounds like the prelude to a gracious retirement to the Bishop Spong Home for Traveling Keynoters.

Pretty much. I don’t think Robbie will walk away for quite a while yet but when he does, he’ll be “Bishop” Robinson until the day he dies.

CJ
“I might have changed some of the wording of that release.” Was it in the second paragraph?

Dale,

No, not so much.

I have a couple of friends who are solid Christians and left-wing voters. It does happen. This has got to be really embarrassing for them. John Podesta, no less.

Left wing Christians?
Is that not an oxy-moron?

Well it sounds as though the new spirit’s precious snowflake is feeling less unique now. Time to move on to other venues to share his unique talents.

Matthew,
Yer killin’ me. The snowflake simile has my sides aching from all the laughter. Woke up all 3 dogs, the laughter…

Koo koo ca choo, Bishop Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know, wo wo wo

Yah – also don’t use “well-oiled” in any posting about VGR. It’s not a pretty picture.

As for being a bishop until the day he dies, does that mean he goes from being a “flaming bishop” to simply being “flambeed” (lake of fire and all that, don’t you know)?

The average age of a mainline Protestant is 63.

These denominations have been dying since the 1960s and lost their cultural clout around 35 years ago.

Yet they think they’re still cutting-edge.

All I can think of is being nice enough to be patronising.

Another blog comment nailed it. The only reason the media give a damn about these churches is they’re fun foils to spite conservative churches with.

I think it was Terry Mattingly who opined that the media fondness for Episcopalians is that they have all the Catholic visuals superimposed over secular substance, and without all the nasty doctrines that get in the way of a good roll in the hay.

Ken,

This guy had a similar take:

http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otr.cfm?id=3887&repos=6&subrepos=4&searchid=600921

I think Ken has a point. Doesn’t Robbie have enough diocesan stuff to do? It appears that he has way too much free time.

Aw, come on, Christopher. The good Bishop is only being a responsible steward, saving diocesan resources, in this time of scarcity and economic downtown.

Bi-vocational pastors are the coming thing, you know!

“various areas of public policy, including economic justice, immigration, LGBT rights, health care, and the environment.”

various areas of leftist fun…economic justice is just shorthand for “I want your $”

“…addressing various areas of public policy, including economic justice, immigration, LGBT rights, health care, and the environment.”

“…addressing various areas of public policy, including LGBT rights, economic justice, LGBT rights, immigration, LGBT rights, health care, LGBT rights, and the environment. And LGBT rights.”

There, fixed it for ya.

Bishop Robinson will bring a well-respected religious perspective to framing

Drat, there was more. I thought for a moment VGR was going to work for Home Depot

Steve L. Maybe he’s going to be “framing” along side Jimmaa Caataa for Habitat for humanity.

“Doesn’t Robbie have enough diocesan stuff to do?”

When your entire diocese has an ASA of about 500, admin must be pretty much on autopilot.

“When your entire diocese has an ASA of about 500, admin must be pretty much on autopilot.”

Not quite – the entire Diocese of Cow-Hampshire has an ASA of just over 4000 (down from 5000 in 2002 – quelle suprise!) In other words, about the size of a large RC parish. But, the autopilot part is correct. They hold confirmation for the entire state once a year at the cathedral.

@ Robb
When used with with reference to a type of christian who brings “a well-respected religious perspective to framing and addressing various areas of public policy, including economic justice, immigration, LGBT rights, health care, and the environment the term “Left wing Christians” is not only an oxy-moron but also a redundancy. :>)

LaVallette,
“the term “Left wing Christians” is not only an oxy-moron but also a redundancy. :>)” I am confused by your comment. How can it be both?